The Facts and Figures Show 2014 a Record Breaking Year for Vinyl while Downloads Decline

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A record-breaking year for vinyl

In the UK, BPI predict LP sales will reach 1.2 million by the end of the year, 54% up on 2013 and the first year to break the 1 million mark since 1996. US sales are estimated at 8.2 million for 2014, up 38% on the previous year and the highest since Soundscan started counting back in 1991.

According to Nielsen SoundScan data, vinyl record sales hit 9.2 million in the US, up 52% from 2013. The numbers are the highest since the music industry monitor Soundscan started tracking back in 1991. The data also indicates that the vinyl market accounts for about six percent of album sales overall.

In the digital market, downloads fell to 1.1 billion from 1.26 billion in 2013 while streaming grew sharply to 164 billion songs, up 54% from 106 billion in 2013.